Police in Thailand to receive increased allowances this year

Police officers across Thailand are set to receive increased allowances this year, following a directive signed by Kittirat Phanpetch, the National Police Chief. The directive, dated Tuesday, November 12, emphasises the need for efficient budget management and cautions against any misallocation of funds.

Kittirat issued the directive to various police divisions, including the Metropolitan Police Bureau and Provincial Police Regions 1 to 9. The document outlines the 2024 fiscal budget management policies, which focus on personnel management and budget evaluations based on performance and conduct. The aim is to optimise resources and ensure sufficient budget allocation for all operational aspects.

The 2024 budget sees an increase from the previous fiscal year, particularly in fuel, accommodation, and travel allowances. The directive prioritises the effective use of fuel budgets to ensure operational efficiency. It also highlights the importance of providing fair compensation for overtime work, especially for junior officers ranked from Deputy Inspector to Inspector.

The directive stresses that the budget allocations must be used judiciously to enhance law enforcement operations and public service efficiency. Officers are instructed to adhere strictly to the guidelines to prevent any grievances about not receiving the entitled funds.

The fuel budget for 2024 includes allocations of 6,000 baht per month for field vehicles, 2,600 baht for field motorcycles, 2,500 baht for administrative vehicles, and 1,200 baht for administrative motorcycles. These allocations are to be used within the designated budgetary limits.

In terms of allowances, the directive mandates that payments to officers from Deputy Inspector to Inspector must not fall below the set allocation criteria. Priority is given to officers involved in high-risk crime prevention and investigation roles. The directive is clear that funds must reach the officers directly to avoid complaints of non-payment.

The monthly allowances for this year are set at 1,000 baht for deputy inspectors to inspectors and 800 baht for sub-inspectors to non-commissioned officers. The directive requires each police unit to prepare and submit plans and expenditure reports for the allocated budgets, using a specified Excel format.

Police regions and divisions are responsible for overseeing and randomly auditing the disbursement of fuel and allowance budgets to ensure compliance with the guidelines. The directive also calls for strict adherence to official disbursement procedures.

The Office of the Auditor General is tasked with planning inspections and verifying budget disbursement documentation. It will conduct random checks to ensure funds reach junior officers directly. Any discrepancies or shortfalls in disbursement should be reported to the National Police Office with supporting evidence.

Additionally, the directive instructs the Office of the Auditor General to conduct meetings to ensure compliance with these guidelines. There is also an established complaint channel via the Taen Jai application for officers to report if they receive less than the allocated allowances or fuel funds, reported KhaoSod.